Context-based error indication methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/156,620, filed Jun. 2, 2008 (now allowed), which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to how an electronic device (such as amulti-media device) interacts with a user of the device. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to how the device indicates to theuser that the device is unable to proceed with a function the user hasrequested.

Several types of electronic devices can store and then “play” for a uservarious types of media. For example, the media may be video orvideo-like media such as a movie or music video. Such video media may bevisual-only (like a silent movie) or both visual and audio (like mostcontemporary movies that include a sound track). Another example ofmedia is audio-only media, like music unaccompanied by any visualimages. Whatever the form of the media, an electronic device playing themedia for a user preferably reproduces for the user all aspects of thecontent of that media. For example, if the media includes visualcontent, the electronic device playing that media typically displaysthat content on a display screen so the user can see it as intended bythe originator of the media. Alternatively or in addition, if the mediaincludes audio content, then the electronic device playing that mediatypically produces an audible output of that content (e.g., viaspeakers, ear phones, or the like) so that the user can hear the audiocontent as intended by the originator of the media. Another term that issometimes used for playing media is “reproducing” media. All of theseterms mean delivering the media to one or more senses (e.g., the eyesand/or ears) of the user as the originator of the media intended thatthe user would receive and experience the media.

Examples of electronic devices that can play one or more types of mediaare some personal computers, some hand-held media players (e.g., theiPOD® media player available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.), somecellular telephones (“cell phones”) or cell-phone-like devices (e.g.,the iPHONE® cellular telephone available from Apple Inc.), and the like.Such devices may receive the media that they play in any of a number ofdifferent ways. For example, the device may play the media more or lessdirectly from a hard or relatively hard source of the media such as apre-recorded CD or DVD. Alternatively, the device may first load themedia from such a hard or relatively hard source into a memory in thedevice, and thereafter play the media from that memory. As anotherexample, the device may receive the media from another device or aremote source. This may be done via any of several different types oflinks such as a cable connection or a wireless connection (e.g., acellular telephone connection, a WIFI connection, a Bluetoothconnection, or the like). Such downloading of media from another deviceor remote source typically involves storing the media in memory of thedevice receiving the download so that the device can later play themedia from that memory.

For convenience in the further discussion herein, all devices of theabove-mentioned types that can play or reproduce media for a user maysometimes be referred to as media players or the like. A media playerthat can play or reproduce media having multiple forms of content (e.g.,both audio and video content) or more than one kind of media (e.g.,media that is audio only and media that is both audio and video) maysometimes be referred to as a multi-media player or the like. As usedherein, multi-media players are included within the term media players.In other words, the more general or generic term is media player.Multi-media players are a subset of media players.

Occasionally a media player will be unable to proceed with playing mediarequested by the user. This may occur for any of several reasons such asa defect or error in the data for the media. When that occurs, the mediaplayer typically provides little or no information to the user about theplayer's inability to proceed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with certain possible aspects of the invention, a methodof operating a media player may include allowing a user of the player toselect an item of media of a particular kind for playing by the player.The player then at least attempts to play the selected item. Any failureof the player to completely play the item is detected. And when such afailure is detected, the player outputs an error indication that isindicative of that particular kind of media. The error indication mayinclude image information, or audio information, or both. The imageinformation may be still or moving. The image information may include animage of broken media of the kind that the item is. The audioinformation may include a sound associated with broken media of the kindthat the item is.

In accordance with certain other possible aspects of the invention, amethod of operating a media player that is adapted for playing media ofany of a plurality of different kinds may include storing a plurality oferror indications in the player, each error indication being evocativeof a breakdown in playing a respective one of the plurality of kinds ofmedia. The user of the player is allowed to select any one of theplurality of kinds of media, and any one of a plurality of items ofmedia of the selected kind. The player plays (or at least attempts toplay) the selected item. The player detects any failure of its abilityto completely play the selected item. When such a failure is detected,the player selects from the plurality of error indications the one ofthose indications that is evocative of a breakdown in playing media ofthe kind that the selected item is. The player then outputs the selectederror indication.

In accordance with still other possible aspects of the invention, amethod of operating a media player may include allowing a user of theplayer to connect the player to an external source of data for aplurality of error indications. The user may then operate the player toselect any one of the plurality of error indications. The selected errorindication is downloaded from the external source to the player. Theplayer outputs the selected error indication when the player fails tooperate properly. The error indications may be evocative of a breakdownin playing media. In that case, the player outputs the selected errorindication when the player fails to play an item of media.

The media player may be adapted for playing media of any of a pluralityof different kinds. For each of those kinds there may be a respectivesubplurality of the error indications, each error indication in asubplurality being evocative of a breakdown in playing media of the kindthat is associated with that subplurality. The user may operate theplayer to select any one of the error indications from each of thesubpluralities. The selected error indications are downloaded from theexternal source to the player. Subsequently, when the player is unableto completely play an item of media of a particular kind, the playeroutputs the downloaded error indication that is evocative of a breakdownin playing media of that kind.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages,will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of amedia player that may be operated in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified flow chart for an illustrative embodiment ofcertain possible aspects of the invention.

FIG. 3 is generally similar to FIG. 1 for an illustrative use of theapparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is again generally similar to FIG. 1 for another illustrative useof the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 is once again generally similar to FIG. 1 for yet anotherillustrative use of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is yet again generally similar to FIG. 1 for still anotherillustrative use of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 7 is a simplified flow chart for an illustrative embodiment ofcertain other possible aspects of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a simplified depiction of possible additional features of twoof the steps in FIG. 2 in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a simplified flow chart for an illustrative embodiment ofstill other possible aspects of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a simplified flow chart for an illustrative embodiment of yetanother possible aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An illustrative electronic media player 10 that can be operated inaccordance with the invention is shown in simplified, block diagram,form in FIG. 1. Media player 10 includes audio output 12 (e.g., one ormore speakers and/or one or more ear phones (or at least one or morereceptacles for ear phone jacks)). Audio output 12 may be used forreproducing (i.e., rendering audible to the user of media player 10)audio content of media being played by player 10, but it may also beused for giving the user other information via sounds audible to theuser. More will be said about this additional possible use of audiooutput 12 later in this specification. Media player 10 further includesvisible display 14 (e.g., a display suitable for reproducing (i.e.,rendering visible to the user of player 10) visual (e.g., video) contentof media being played by the player). Display 14 may also be used forgiving the user of player 10 other information via graphics and/or textvisible to the user. More will also be said about this possibleadditional use of display 14 later in this specification.

Another typical component of media player 10 is memory 16. This memorymay be used to store media that can be played by player 10. It may alsostore other information, and it may also be used to store software thatcontrols certain aspects of the operation of player 10.

Still another typical component of media player 10 is input mechanism18, by which the user may control certain aspects of the operation ofmedia player 10 and/or by which player 10 may receive information (e.g.,media, etc.) from external sources. Mechanism 18 may take any of severalforms, and may include, for example, any one or more of a keypad, atouch screen, a track ball, individual function control buttons, and anyother means by which the user may give instructions to player 10. Asnoted above, mechanism 18 may also include one or more types of inputsfor information coming from other sources. Thus mechanism 18 may alsoinclude one or more of a cable connection, a WIFI connection orinterface, a Bluetooth connection or interface, a cellular telephoneconnection or interface, or the like.

Other typical components of media player 10 include control circuitry 20and microphone and/or camera 22. Control circuitry 20 typically controlsoperation of player 10, subject in some respects to instructions inputby the user and/or other sources via input mechanism 18, and possiblyalso subject in some respects to control software executed from memory16. Microphone and/or camera 22 can be used by the user of device 10 toenter sound information and/or image information.

An illustrative embodiment 100 of steps that media player 10 may performin connection with playing media in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 2. At the head of flow 100 is step 102, whichcalls for player 10 to play some media requested by the user of player10. For example, the user may request player 10 to play a particularpiece of music or to play a particular movie, and step 102 indicatesthat player 10 responds by playing the requested media.

Step 104 is performed periodically (e.g., at many, successive, veryclosely spaced times) to determine whether or not play of the requestedmedia has concluded. If so, control passes from step 104 to step 106,where the flow ends. If step 104 does not find that play of therequested media has finished then control passes from step 104 to step110.

After each transfer of control from step 104 to step 110, step 110determines whether or not the media is playing correctly. For example,step 110 may monitor the flow of information for the media from memory16 through other circuitry (e.g., 20) of player 10 to display 14 and/oraudio output 12 to make sure that such information is flowing properly(e.g., at a normal rate, with an expected rate of progress through theinformation, without improper repetition of information, without unduenumbers of data errors in the information, etc.). If step 110 determinesthat the media is playing correctly, then control passes from step 110back to step 102 to allow play of the media to continue. If the media isplaying correctly, control remains in loop 102, 104, 110, 102, . . .until the media finishes playing properly and the above-mentioned loopis exited at step 106. On the other hand, if at any time step 110detects that the media is not playing correctly, then control passesfrom step 110 to step 120.

When control passes to step 120 (because step 110 has found that player10 is not playing the media correctly), step 120 causes player 10 tostop attempting to play the media (if the player is still trying to playthe media). Control then passes to step 122.

Step 122 causes player 10 to select a type of error indication that isappropriate for the type of media that the player was trying to play.For example, if the media that player 10 was attempting to play was amovie (motion picture), then step 122 may select (1) a graphic (still ormoving) that resembles what one sometimes sees on a motion picturescreen when the movie film passing through a motion picture projectorbreaks, and/or (2) an audio clip that resembles what one sometimes hearsfrom the sound system of a motion picture projector when the filmpassing through the projector breaks. Assuming that step 122 hasselected the above-mentioned graphic and audio error indications, thenstep 124 (which follows step 122) causes player 10 to display on display14 the selected graphic (still or moving), and to audibly output viaaudio output 12 the selected audio clip (in synchronization with thegraphic on display 14). This example is further illustrated by FIG. 3,which is described in the next paragraph.

FIG. 3 shows an example of how media player 10 may output amedia-appropriate (or context-based) error indication when step 124 isperformed. The context illustrated by FIG. 3 is the context mentioned inthe preceding paragraph, namely, detection of a significant error whileplaying media that is a movie or that is at least movie-like. The errorindication illustrated by FIG. 3 includes a graphic 210 that isdisplayed on display 14 and that is at least somewhat like a user mightsee on a motion picture screen when motion picture film going through amotion picture projector suddenly breaks. This graphic may be a stillimage of broken motion picture film, including a representation of thefilm itself 216, with a break 218 at one point along its length, andwith other typical visual features or characteristics of motion picturefilm such as a succession of image or “frame” areas 212 a-d, rows ofsprocket holes 214 along both sides of the central image area, etc.Alternatively, the same image content may be provided in a movinggraphic, e.g., an image that moves at a rate somewhat like the rate offilm through a projector from the bottom to the top of display 14 assuggested by the arrow 220 in FIG. 3. At the same time, audio output 12may emit sounds 230 from an audio clip, which sounds at least resemblesounds that may come from a motion picture projector sound system whentraditional motion picture film that includes a sound track breaks inthe projector. The letters BRRRPP are included in FIG. 3 to indicatewhat this audio output may sound like. (This sound can be somewhat likethe sound made by a conventional phonograph needle being quickly swepttransversely across a number of the grooves on a conventional phonographrecord.) Again, FIG. 3 shows an example of context-based errorindications that media player 10 may output to indicate to the user ofthe media player that the player is no longer able to proceed withplaying media that is in the nature of a movie. These output indications210 and 230 are context-based (or media-appropriate) because theyresemble or at least evoke for the user the experience the user mayassociate with failure of this same type of media to play in othercontexts (e.g., in a movie theater when the motion picture film goingthrough the theater's motion picture projector breaks, resulting in animage like 210 on the theater's motion picture screen and a sound like230 from the theater's sound system).

FIG. 4 shows another example of context-based error indications thatmedia player 10 may output when another type of media fails to playcorrectly. Again, FIG. 4 is another example of what player 10 may outputwhen step 124 is performed, but for a different type of media than forwhich the FIG. 3 error outputs would typically be used. The errorindications shown in FIG. 4 may be appropriate for an error thatprevents play of media that is audio and that the user may associatewith coming from a CD (compact disc). Accordingly, the error indicationsshown in FIG. 4 include a graphic 240 on display 14 of a broken orbreaking CD, and a sound 260 from audio output 12 that resembles thesound of a CD being broken (represented by the letters SNAP in FIG. 4).As shown in FIG. 4, graphic 240 may include features that are typical ofa broken CD. These may include two CD halves or portions 242 a and 242b, with a space having mating jagged edges 248 between them. Othertypical features of a CD may be included in graphic 240, such as thetypical central aperture 246 and the ring-shaped data and/or label area244. Graphic 240 may be a still image, or it may be a moving image(e.g., showing portions 242 a and 242 b moving away from one another ondisplay 14 as indicated by the arrows 250 a and 250 b in FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 shows alternative output indications that media player 10 mayprovide (per step 124) when a failure occurs in playing media of thegeneral kind for which what is shown in FIG. 3 might be used (i.e.,media that is a movie or like a movie). In FIG. 5 the graphic image 280on display 14 is that of a motion picture projector 282 in which themotion picture film 284 has broken and is flying around outside thenormal path of film through the projector. The sound 300 output by audiooutput 12 can be similar to the sound that such broken, loose ends offilm make as the reels of the projector continue to turn. In FIG. 5 thissound is indicated by the letters FLAP-FLAP-FLAP. Graphic 280 mayinclude other features of an iconic motion picture projector such asfilm reels 286 a and 286 b (which can be shown as revolving, ifdesired), and light 288 emanating from a lens portion of the projector.

FIG. 6 shows another alternative that may be used when media such asmusic fails to play or fails to continue to play. FIG. 6 may thereforebe used as an alternative to what is shown in FIG. 4 for media of thesame general type. In the FIG. 6 example, the graphic 320 on display 14is an image of a broken guitar, and the sound 340 emitted by audiodisplay 12 is intended to resemble the sound that a guitar might make asit is broken (indicated in FIG. 6 by the letters CRASH-TWANG). Graphic320 includes the image of a broken guitar 322 with broken strings 324flying. Graphic 320 may be still or moving.

It will be appreciated that FIGS. 3-6 are just some examples of thetypes of context-based or media-appropriate error indications that mediaplayer 10 may output when various types of media fail to play (or failto continue to play) on the player. These output indications may rangefrom what may be considered “serious” to what may be considered more“whimsical.” These output indications may also range from having fairlyaccurate (i.e., true-to-life) graphic and/or acoustic content, to havingcontent that is more abstract. The degree of graphic and/or acousticornamentation can vary. The time duration of the output(s) can vary. Anygraphic employed can be still or moving. Contextual audible errorindications that may be produced may include something like apre-recorded synthesized voice or voices, a pre-recorded human voice orvoices, pre-designed and pre-recorded sounds generally (possiblyincluding music), beeps, etc. Some electronic devices like 10 may uselight indicators (e.g., LEDs), rather than full graphic displays, forvisual output, and such light indicators may also be used to producecontextual error indications in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 7 shows some optional additional steps that may be employed ifdesired. These steps relate to media player 10 creating and maintaininga log (e.g., in memory 16) of media playing errors or failures that haveoccurred, reporting those errors to other components of a larger systemthat supply media to player 10, and possibly benefiting from correctiveaction that can be taken.

Step 124 in FIG. 7 is duplicated from FIG. 2 to place the additionalFIG. 7 steps in a possible context in relation to other flow aspectsherein. Thus (as FIG. 7 shows) after step 124 has been performed,control may pass to step 410.

In step 410 media player 10 records information about the media-playfailure that has just occurred in a log of such failure that the mediaplayer creates, maintains, and updates as needed (e.g., in its memory16). For example, this log may include an identification of the mediaitem that failed to play.

In step 420, media player 20 communicates the information in its log ofmedia-play failures to other components. For example, these otherexternal components may include other components of the larger systemfrom which media player typically gets its media. The communicationreferred to in step 420 may be like any media-receiving communicationthat media player 20 engages in with other system components. Thus, forexample, this communication may be via a cable, or it may be wireless(e.g., via WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.). The communication referred to in step420 may occur at any convenient time. For example, it may occur as soonas a media-play failure is detected, or it may occur the next time mediaplayer 10 is connected to the other components for any purpose, such asto receive more media.

Step 430 is typically performed (at least for the most part) by systemcomponents that are external to media player 10. In this step, thesecomponents analyze the information in the play-failure log that mediaplayer 10 has supplied in order to determine and attempt appropriatecorrective action. One corrective action that is very often effective isjust to again download to media player 10 the media item that player 10was previously unable to play. The illustrative embodiment shown in FIG.7 has this being done as an example. Control then passes from step 430to step 440.

In step 440 media player 10 receives the new download of the media thatfailed when previously played. Also in step 440, media player 10replaces its old version of that media with the new download. In mostcases this will enable media player 10 to play this media withoutfailure in the future.

It will be appreciated that in order for media player 10 to outputmedia-appropriate error indication(s) per step 124, player 10 must haveknowledge of the type of media that was being played when theplay-failure occurred. Such knowledge is needed so that step 122 canmake an appropriate error indication selection. It may be possible forstep 122 to know what type of media was being played when the failureoccurred from other aspects of the operation of player 10 (e.g., howcontrol circuitry 20 is currently configured). As another example, FIG.8 shows versions of steps 102 and 108 from FIG. 1 that can be used tofacilitate this aspect of the operation. In the FIG. 8 version of step102, a flag is set (e.g., at a particular location in memory 16) toindicate what type of media is currently being played. Then in the FIG.8 version of step 122, this flag is used as a basis for selecting thetype of error indication that is appropriate for the type of mediaidentified by the flag.

Media player 10 can get the above-described context-based ormedia-appropriate error indication information in any of many differentways. For example, media player 10 can be manufactured or at least soldwith a set of such error indications already installed (e.g., in memory16). As another alternative, a set of context-based error indicationscan be downloaded to media player 10 at any time and in any desired way(e.g., like any download of media to the player). Such error indicationscan form a more or less separate data (actually media) set in memory 16.Still another possibility is for each item of media to come with its ownmedia-appropriate error indication data (e.g., in a header to that mediaitem), to which access can be made in steps 122 and 124 in the eventthat the media item fails to play. As an alternative to full errorindication data as part of each media item, each media item can includea flag or other pointer information that identifies the type of errorindication that should be output in the event that the media item failsto play. Such a flag or pointer can also be a header to each media item.Steps like 102 and 122 in FIG. 8 can be employed to make use of suchflag or pointer information in the selection and output ofmedia-appropriate error indications.

Still another possibility related to giving media player 10media-appropriate error indications data is illustrated by FIG. 9. ThisFIG. shows an example of how a user of media player 10 may select errorindications that the user prefers to have his or her media playeremploy.

In step 510 media player 10 establishes a connection to externalcomponents. This can be like any connection of media player 10 toexternal components for other purposes such as selecting and reviewingmedia that the user wants his or her media player to be able to play.Thus, as in all other previously mentioned instances, such a connectioncan be by cable or wireless (e.g., WIFI, Bluetooth, or the like).

In step 520 the user uses media player 10 to request to view and/or hearavailable types of error indications that the external components canprovide to a media player. As part of step 520 the user may be able tosee (via display 14) and hear (via audio output 12) various types oferror indications. For example, these various types of error indicationsmay be collected into a plurality of sets, each of which may have adifferent theme. A theme of one such set may be relatively “serious” andsubdued, including realistic graphics for display 14 and realistic audiofor audio output 12. A theme of another such set may be more“whimsical,” including more abstract graphics and more fanciful audio.Still another theme for still another set of error indications may bemore “outrageous,” including “extreme” graphics and audio. Within eachsuch set there will typically be one error indication that isappropriate for media like movies, one error indication that isappropriate for media like music, etc. The “granularity” of the errorindications can be even greater. For example, media from actual moviesmay be distinguished from media from television programming, withdifferent media-appropriate error indications being used for each(broken film graphic for movies; smashed television screen fortelevision programming). As another example of such greater granularity,classical music media may be distinguished from country music media,with different error indications for each (broken violin graphic forclassical music; broken guitar graphic for country music).

In step 530 the user uses media player 10 to select the errorindications the user desires. For example, if there are various sets ofdifferent error indications grouped by theme, the user may select aparticular theme and thus receive the error indications in that thematicgroup.

In step 540 the external components download data for the selected errorindications to the user's media player 10.

In step 550, the media player stores the downloaded error indicationsfor future use.

FIG. 10 illustrates another possible aspect of the invention. Thisrelates to the possibility that stoppage of the playing of an item ofmedia may be due to (or may cause) stoppage of the normal higher levelsoftware of device 10. Thus, in addition to the higher level flow shownin other FIGS. herein, the flow shown in FIG. 10 may be performed in alower level of device 10 (e.g., in firmware of the device). In step 610,this lower level flow continuously or frequently determines whether ornot the higher level software (e.g., the media-playing software) ofdevice 10 is running normally. As long as the higher level software isrunning properly, the FIG. 10 flow remains at step 610. However, if step610 determines that the higher level software is not running normally,then control passes from lower level step 610 to lower level step 620.

When step 620 is performed, that step substitutes for any other outputof device 10 an error indication from a lower level source, i.e., asource that is not dependent on operation of any higher level software.Again, this lower level source may be firmware of device 10. If desired,this lower-level-sourced error indication may be a media-appropriateerror indication, like any of those described earlier in thisspecification.

After lower level step 620 has been performed, control passes from thatstep to lower level end step 630.

The feature illustrated by FIG. 10 ensures output of an error indication(possibly a media-appropriate error message) even if the higher levelsoftware of device 10 stops running.

It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of theprinciples of the invention, and that various modifications can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. For example, the particular graphics shown herein forvarious types of media-play-failure indications are only some of themany possibilities that will occur to those skilled in the art.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A media player comprising control circuitryconfigured to: allow a user of the media player to select an item ofmedia of a particular kind for playing by the player; play the selecteditem; detect any failure of the media player to play the item; and whena failure is detected, output an error indication that is indicative ofthe particular kind of media.
 2. The media player of claim 1, whereinthe error indication includes a graphic image.
 3. The media player ofclaim 2, wherein the graphic image includes a still image.
 4. The mediaplayer of claim 2, wherein the graphic image includes a moving image. 5.The media player of claim 1, wherein the indication includes an audiooutput.
 6. The media player of claim 1, wherein the error indicationincludes both an audio output and an image output.
 7. The media playerof claim 1, wherein the error indication includes an image of brokenmedia of the particular kind.
 8. The media player of claim 1, whereinthe error indication includes an audio output having a sound associatedwith broken media of the particular kind.
 9. The media player of claim1, wherein the detecting includes detecting any failure of relativelyhigh level software of the media player to continue to run, and whereinthe outputting includes performing relatively low level functions, whichare not dependent on the relatively high level software, to output anerror indication.
 10. A memory having software stored thereon, thesoftware being executable by control circuitry in a media player toperform a method comprising: storing a plurality of error indications,each of which is evocative of a breakdown in playing a respective one ofa plurality of kinds of media; allowing a user of the media player toselect any one of the plurality of kinds of media and any one of aplurality of items of media of the selected kind; playing the selecteditem of media; detecting any failure of the media player to play theselected item; when a failure is detected, selecting from the pluralityof error indications the one of those error indications that isevocative of a breakdown in playing media of the kind that the selecteditem of media is; and outputting the selected error indication.
 11. Thememory of claim 10, wherein the selected error indication includes agraphic image.
 12. The memory of claim 10, wherein the selected errorindication includes an audio output.
 13. The memory of claim 10, whereinthe selected error indication includes both an audio output and an imageoutput.
 14. The memory of claim 10, wherein the selected errorindication includes an image of broken media of the kind that theselected item of media is.
 15. The memory of claim 10, wherein theselected error indication includes an audio output having a soundassociated with broken media of the kind that the selected item of mediais.
 16. The memory of claim 10, wherein the software is furtherexecutable by control circuitry in the media player to perform a methodcomprising: allowing the user to operate the media player to select anyone of a plurality of error indications, wherein outputting an errorindication that is indicative of the particular kind of media comprisesoutputting the selected error indication.
 17. The memory of claim 16,wherein the software is further executable by control circuitry in themedia player to perform a method comprising: allowing the user of themedia player to connect the media player to an external source of datafor the plurality of error indications; and downloading from theexternal source to the media player the selected error indication. 18.The memory of claim 10, wherein the software is further executable bycontrol circuitry in the media player to perform a method comprising:allowing the user to operate the media player to select a subset of asecond plurality of error indications, wherein the storing the pluralityof error indications comprises storing the selected subset of the secondplurality of error indications, and wherein the selecting from theplurality of error indications the one of those error indications thatis evocative of a breakdown in playing media of the kind that theselected item of media is comprises selecting an error indication fromthe selected subset of the second plurality of error indications. 19.The memory of claim 18, wherein the software is further executable bycontrol circuitry in the media player to perform a method comprising:allowing the user of the media player to connect the player to anexternal source of data for the second plurality of error indications;and downloading from the external source to the media player theselected subset of the second plurality of error indications.
 20. Thememory of claim 19, wherein the selected subset of the plurality oferror indications comprises at least one respective error indicationthat is evocative of a breakdown in playing of each respective one ofthe plurality of kinds of media.
 21. A memory having software storedthereon, the software being executable by control circuitry in a mediaplayer to perform a method comprising: allowing a user of the mediaplayer to select an item of media of a particular kind for playing bythe player; playing the selected item; detecting any failure of themedia player to play the item; and when a failure is detected, outputingan error indication that is indicative of the particular kind of media.22. The memory of claim 21, wherein the error indication includes agraphic image.
 23. The memory of claim 22, wherein the graphic imageincludes a still image.
 24. The memory of claim 22, wherein the graphicimage includes a moving image.
 25. The memory of claim 21, wherein theindication includes an audio output.
 26. The memory of claim 21, whereinthe error indication includes both an audio output and an image output.27. The memory of claim 21, wherein the error indication includes animage of broken media of the particular kind.
 28. The memory of claim21, wherein the error indication includes an audio output having a soundassociated with broken media of the particular kind.
 29. The memory ofclaim 21, wherein the detecting includes detecting any failure ofrelatively high level software of the media player to continue to run,and wherein the outputting includes performing relatively low levelfunctions, which are not dependent on the relatively high levelsoftware, to output an error indication.
 30. A media player comprisingcontrol circuitry configured to: store a plurality of error indications,each of which is evocative of a breakdown in playing a respective one ofa plurality of kinds of media; allow a user of the media player toselect any one of the plurality of kinds of media and any one of aplurality of items of media of the selected kind; play the selected itemof media; detect any failure of the media player to play the selecteditem; when a failure is detected, select from the plurality of errorindications the one of those error indications that is evocative of abreakdown in playing media of the kind that the selected item of mediais; and output the selected error indication.
 31. The media player ofclaim 30, wherein the selected error indication includes a graphicimage.
 32. The media player of claim 30, wherein the selected errorindication includes an audio output.
 33. The media player of claim 30,wherein the selected error indication includes both an audio output andan image output.
 34. The media player of claim 30, wherein the selectederror indication includes an image of broken media of the kind that theselected item of media is.
 35. The media player of claim 30, wherein theselected error indication includes an audio output having a soundassociated with broken media of the kind that the selected item of mediais.
 36. The media player of claim 30, wherein the control circuitry isfurther configured: allow the user to operate the media player to selectany one of a plurality of error indications, wherein outputting an errorindication that is indicative of the particular kind of media comprisesoutputting the selected error indication.
 37. The media player of claim36, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: allow theuser of the media player to connect the media player to an externalsource of data for the plurality of error indications; and download fromthe external source to the media player the selected error indication.38. The media player of claim 30, wherein the control circuitry isfurther configured to: allow the user to operate the media player toselect a subset of a second plurality of error indications, wherein thestoring the plurality of error indications comprises storing theselected subset of the second plurality of error indications, andwherein the selecting from the plurality of error indications the one ofthose error indications that is evocative of a breakdown in playingmedia of the kind that the selected item of media is comprises selectingan error indication from the selected subset of the second plurality oferror indications.
 39. The media player of claim 38, wherein the controlcircuitry is further configured to: allow the user of the media playerto connect the player to an external source of data for the secondplurality of error indications; and download from the external source tothe media player the selected subset of the second plurality of errorindications.
 40. The media player of claim 39, wherein the selectedsubset of the plurality of error indications comprises at least onerespective error indication that is evocative of a breakdown in playingof each respective one of the plurality of kinds of media.